Routes

From interrailing across Europe with a gang of friends as a teen, to celebrating twenty years in music at the Royal Albert Hall, Jack Savoretti’s life has been shaped by movement, culture and connection. In this episode of Routes from LNER, the singer-songwriter joins Jenni to talk about the journeys that influenced him, his love of train travel, and why Newcastle will always hold a special place in his heart.Jack reflects on growing up between cultures, with an Italian father, an English mother, and childhood years spent at an international school in Switzerland surrounded by classmates from every corner of the world. He shares stories of weekend escapes to Florence and Venice as a teenager, the chaos of 90’s interrailing trips where plans fell apart and friends disappeared along the way, and how those early adventures sparked a lifelong love of trains and travelling without a fixed destination.There’s also plenty of talk about family life on the road, from cooking competitive batches of homemade pesto with his kids to the emotional experience of taking his daughter on her first trip abroad. Jack opens up about reconnecting with his Italian roots while making music, how travel feeds his songwriting, and why cities like Athens and Marrakech continue to inspire him. Expect stories about slipping on stage, furniture hunting in tour cities, Italian superstitions, and the simple magic of seeing the world pass by from a train window.

Host Jenni Falconer welcomes former England rugby international turned DJ James Haskell aboard the Quiet Coach in this episode of Routes from LNER. From the unwritten rules of the quiet carriage to the realities of life spent travelling the world for rugby, James shares stories from the road and reflects on the experiences that have shaped him beyond the pitch.The conversation explores James’s time living abroad, including his stint in Japan and the culture shocks that come with adapting to a completely different language and way of life. He and Jenni discuss how travel can broaden your perspective, the places that leave a lasting impression, and how looking back on old memories can sometimes feel like revisiting someone else’s life.They also dive into the show’s “Snacks, Tracks & Hacks” segment, where James reveals his go-to travel snacks, what he listens to on long journeys, and the little tips that make travelling easier. Along the way, Jenni shares a hilarious parenting travel story about a missing cuddly toy that turned into a full-scale family mission to replace it.

What happens when a 6ft4 former England rugby star swaps the pitch for the DJ booth and somehow ends up sharing a bath with Madonna? On this episode of Routes from LNER, James Haskell joins Jenni Falconer for a brilliantly unpredictable journey to Edinburgh, packed with sharp humour and seriously good stories.James looks back at life playing international rugby, his years living in France near the Champs-Élysées, and the cultural curveballs that come with competing around the world. He shares what touring Scotland really feels like as an England player, why travel gives him rare moments of quiet, and how the Australian jungle tested him during I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2019.Now an international DJ and heading into a new chapter on Celebs Go Dating, James talks about life after elite sport, performing to thousands, fatherhood, and building a second career in the public eye. Funny, frank and consistently surprising, this is a conversation that goes far beyond rugby, and proves reinvention can be just as competitive as the game itself.

From secretly filming sketches in the art department to turning up at TV meetings in full character, this week’s Quiet Coach guest has never taken the conventional route. In this episode of Routes from LNER, Jenni Falconer sits down with comedian, actor, artist and podcaster Leigh Francis for a funny, chaotic and surprisingly honest chat about creativity, confidence and carving out a career by backing yourself, even when no one else quite understands what you’re doing. From missing out on art college to becoming a senior graphic designer drawing crocodiles on demand, Leigh shares how eight years of graft (and a lot of dressing up) led to his big break.There are brilliant behind-the-scenes stories about inventing his characters, where Leigh speaks about living by the motto “Don’t grow up, it’s a trap,” why he still spends his downtime sewing, sculpting and building green-screen studios in his loft, and how proud he feels bringing wife Jill into the spotlight on their podcast, Unlikely Friends. It’s a candid look at ego, insecurity, hard work and the joy of still loving what you do.Plus, as always, we get into snacks, tracks and hacks, including five-pound Mini Gems from WHSmith, accidental double breakfasts in first class, a loft full of abandoned travel pillows, and the unforgettable moment he forgot his ESTA and ended up flying to Florida with nothing but a backpack. Warm, self-deprecating and packed with laugh-out-loud moments, this is a relaxed and revealing conversation about staying playful, taking risks, and never quite doing things the normal way.

From Leeds beginnings and Bridlington beach trips to Halloween weddings and first overseas adventures, Leigh Francis’s life off-screen is as colourful as the characters he’s created. In this episode of Routes, Leigh joins Jenni to talk about growing up in Yorkshire, the chaotic comedy worlds of Celebrity Juice and Bo’ Selecta, and how his childhood shaped his sense of humour. He reflects on early travel experiences, static caravan holidays, and his first drunken friend holiday abroad, which set the tone for a lifetime of hilarious misadventures.Leigh shares stories that are equal parts funny and heartfelt, from carrying a life-size Howard the Duck on the train to visiting his favourite locations from Back to the Future, and the time he met Pharrell while wearing the same hat. He talks about family road trips through Whitby, the joy of Comic‑Con cosplay, and the creative process behind iconic characters like Keith Lemon. Along the way, there’s laughter, nostalgia, and genuine insight into the experiences that fuel his comedy.He also opens up about life on the road, being recognised (or not!) around the world, and the special journeys he’s shared with his wife and kids. Whether it’s memories of seaside arcades, discovering the magic of Disney on honeymoon, or everyday family life, this episode is a silly, personal, and unfiltered look at the laughs, travel tales, and roots that have made Leigh who he is.